Willie Knowles Obituary

Willie Lee Knowles went to join his beloved wife Winnie Faye Knowles on February 17, 2010 and to be in the presence of his heavenly father. Willie was born on December 02,1923 to William Jackson Knowles and Ernie Lee (Lloyd) Knowles in Balone, Florida. Willie joined the U.S. Navy in Jacksonville, Florida in 1942 and served as an Aerial Gunner Instructor training the American Volunteer Squadron known as the Flying Tigers. While in the Navy at Pensacola, Florida he met and married Winnie Faye Adams, they were married for 60 years until her death in January, 2004. After the war he worked a short time for the Southern Pacific Railroad before joining the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1947 and was with the Army Air Corps when it became the U. S. Air Force. Willie stayed in the Air Force, help to start the Strategic Air Command, participated in both the Berlin Air Lift and the freedom fight for Israel while with SAC then transferred to Shepard Air Force Base with the Strategic Missile Command where he taught many of the people involved in both the defense of our country as well as the exploration of space. Willie retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1966 as a Master Sergeant. He worked for the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City until his medical retirement in 1976. He was a graduate of the University of Southern Colorado where he was a member of the Honor Society for Behavioral Science. Willie was a member of the Masonic Order which he joined in 1949 in Burkburnett, Texas and currently a member of the Coal Creek Masonic Lodge in Coal Creek, Colorado. He obtained the level of a 32nd degree mason. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his brother Andrew Jackson Knowles, His sister Lily Knowles Highsmith. He is survived by is daughter Myra Snelling and husband Larry , his son Ronald Howard Knowles Sr. and wife Francis, and his son Daryl Lee Knowles Sr. and wife Sherry. Willie is also survived by his niece Debbie Lawson, eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 6-8 PM at Mountain View Mortuary. Burial for Willie will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at 1:15 PM Monday, February 22, 2010 following a graveside service with Military Honors.